A web place for epistles, sermons, homilies, and other spiritual and pastoral reflections of Fr John Brian Paprock, including Sunday sermons from Holy Transfiguration Chapel in Madison Wisconsin and links to articles published on-line. All images are from the archives of Fr John Brian. Most of them are photographs taken by him. Permission to use any of the content of this blog needs to be requested - frjohnbrian@gmail.com

Monday, July 25, 2011

This week, in the Gospel of Matthew, at the end of Chapter 15 is the story of Christ's compassion in feeding four thousand followers.

Fr John-Brian gives a homiletic sermon on the unique points of this story. Most scholars believe this is a different incident from the feeding of five thousand.

The question arises in spiritual development, if we have been following Christ, what do we do when we find that we are with Him in a desolate place for three days? What about those who have been following Him with us?

The answer comes in a powerful message of faith, thanksgiving and charitible love. Jesus said Matthew 15:32 "I have compassion for this people."

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, July 24, 2011 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission
Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Last week, the Gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus sent His disciples and apostles as lambs among wolves. This paradoxical directive to convert the world in a lamb-like manner meant many martyrs were devoured and many more since. Some suffer abuses even by the hands of those that say they serve God, as Jesus Christ foretold.

This week's Gospel (from Luke chapter 9) starts with the Apostles telling Jesus everything they have done when they were sent forth. Be sure that this includes their mistakes and their failures. Yet, Christ gives them a demonstration of His love for His followers by feeding five thousand with fives loaves and two fish, preserving them for the service and ministry in the future.

When we preserve anything in this world, we are trying to keep the forces of decay and corruption from destroying something important. Fr John Brian uses Psalm 16 to
remind us of the basic spiritual principles of keeping our service and ministry alive - against the forces of decay and death in this world.

These two readings from this Sunday of Pentecost can guide us in the difficult times Christian mission work in this modern world.

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, July 17, 2011 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Repent of self-righteousness, using religious rhetoric to justify a smug andsuperior attitude, declaring that you know the disposition of souls youwould condemn in superficiality - repent of this self-loathing that wouldrestrict the entrance God's kingdom only to those you approve, before youfind yourself alone in heaven and then discover you have only preserved yourplace in Sheol. Repent, for Jesus Christ promised to receive the penitentinto His kingdom - a kingdom large enough for all those who seek His love.Only the Lord knows the heart of those that know Him.

+ Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me, a sinner.

+ Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me, a sinner.

+ Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me, a sinner.

The Lord said, "Love one another as I have loved you - so that theymay know you are of me."

In love, we need to allow space in heaven even for our enemies. TheLord will judge the heart.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Ten years have passed since Fr John Brian and few others have been tilling and planting seeds. On July 10, 2001, at the Family Conference in Toronto, Holy Transfiguration Mission officially joined the Mission Society of St Gregorios of India and began the mission work given to us in Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

This week's Gospel (Luke chapter 10) focuses on the seventy disciples sent forth; the beginning of the ministry of Christian mission. The reading from Acts is about the Seven Deacons. St Paul's Epistle also speaks to the legacy of mission work - the continuing blessing to send forth dsciples to bring the message of Christ to a fallen world.

During this time of the Holy Apostles after Pentecost, Fr John Brian speaks about the basic spiritual principles and priorities of Orthodox Christian mission work in America. He stresses the importance for each of us in our continued spiritual development to participate in mission with the gifts and talents God has given us.

Fr John Brian uses the admonitions of Jesus Christ to those He sent ahead of Him to instruct us in s spiritual posture for this modern society and culture that does not understand Holy Orthodoxy.

This is an important teaching for every Orthodox Christian who lives in a non-Orthodox country, but also for those in countries and regions that are becoming increasingly secular.

It is clear that God's will is for everyone to know Him. As Jesus Christ admonishes in Luke 10:

"Tell them the kingdom of heaven is near to them."

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, July 10, 2011 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission
Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

On the eve of the American celebration of Independence, history suggests freedom was worth fighting for. But what is freedom but the use of our will?

During this time of the Holy Apostles, Fr John Brian reflects on one of the gifts handed to our time - the Lord's Prayer. More specifically the phrase we clearly state every time we join that prayer: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

There is implicit a yearning to have God's will pre-eminent over ours. For us to join our will with His.

Fr John Brian uses John 6:38 (and surrounding scriptures) to help in clarifying the issues of wills:

"For I [Jesus] have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me."

How often do we exchange our will, our intent for God's? Do we even really want God's will in our life or anywhere on Earth? Perhaps, we want God to conform to our ideals? Do we pray for Him to give us our will right after we have asked for His will be done?

There is more freedom in follwoing God's will than following our own.

This sermon uses the English translation of the Aramaic by Lamsa. The Aramaic Bible, also called the Peshitta, was written in the original language of Jesus and his apostles.

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, July 3, 2011 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.